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Myles Garrett 'needs no endorsement' from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on 'special season'
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- Myles Garrett 'needs no endorsement' from Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on 'special season'
BEREA — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn't taking credit for the elite level of play the Browns have had on defense. However, he's more than happy to remind those who will listen that he could tell just how good they were two months ago.
"Talked about it last time we played them really," Tomlin told Pittsburgh reporters on Tuesday. "To be quite honest with you, I knew that they would be elite in Week 2 when we were playing 'em, but I didn't bother to try to convince you guys. I just figured that the journey would display it and they are because they got quality players."
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Those quality players on the Browns defense limited Pittsburgh to just 255 total yards, including just 55 on the ground, in their first meeting back on Sept. 18. Despite that, as well as only allowing Pittsburgh's offense to score one touchdown, the Browns left with a 26-22 loss.
As the two AFC North rivals meet in a battle of 6-3 teams in Sunday's rematch in Cleveland, Tomlin is once again trumpeting the praises of the Browns' defense. That's especially true of one player in particular, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett , for whom he gives the ultimate compliment by how he addresses him.
"They got quality guys at all levels, led, obviously, by Mr. Garrett, who is having a special season," Tomlin said. "He needs no endorsement from me. All you got to do is watch the Cleveland Browns play. Oftentimes he is the guy making the significant play in terms of determining the outcome of games and so that is his resume."
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) talks with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin before a game, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020, in Pittsburgh.
Garrett's resume this season is one that very much screams Defensive Player of the Year. It goes beyond just the 11 sacks, which have him tied with the Minnesota Vikings ' Danielle Hunter for the league lead.
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The multi-time All-Pro is making plays at the most opportune times. Or, if you're the Browns opponents, the most inopportune times.
Garrett's 1.5 sacks in this past Sunday's win at the Baltimore Ravens came on consecutive plays late in the third quarter to knock the Ravens out of Justin Tucker 's prodigious field goal range. His two sacks in a Week 7 win at the Indianapolis Colts both led to Gardner Minshew II fumbles, which led — one directly — to Browns touchdowns.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett reacts after sacking Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) in the second half, Nov. 12, 2023, in Baltimore.
That game also featured an all-time Garrett highlight, when he leaped over the Colts' line to block a 60-yard field goal. Then again, he seems to be adding some kind of jaw-dropping play every game.
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"We don't need to add to it," Tomlin said. "I'm sure we'll work hard all week not to, but I'm sure that everybody that plays them does. You turn on the tape, man. … That's what guys like him do. We know that we're not going to rediscover that this weekend in the stadium. We already know it and so we're kind of preparing with that understanding."
Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew fumbles as he is sacked by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett during the first half, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Indianapolis.
Garrett's performance in Baltimore pushed him to double digits in sacks for the sixth consecutive season. He's just the seventh player in NFL history to achieve that, joining Reggie White, John Randle, DeMarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Bruce Smith and Lawrence Taylor.
Garrett owns the franchise record for sacks with 85.5 in his career. However, only seven of those have come against the Steelers in 11 career games against Pittsburgh, including none in the first meeting back on Sept. 18.
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Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett throws a first-half pass while in the grasp of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett's 'special season' obvious to Steelers coach Mike Tomlin
